Since 2020, the time some people from Haliburton County and Kawartha Lakes spend enrolled in social assistance programs, like Ontario Works, has doubled according to Janine Mitchell, the recently retired manager of human services with the City of Kawartha Lakes.
She delivered a new four-year social services service plan to the County April 23, highlighting the current demand, outlining provincial targets, and identifying some concerning trends that have emerged recently.
“Since the pandemic, there has been a drastic increase in the average number of months on assistance. Couples and couples with dependents have the highest increase with average months on assistance,” Mitchell said, noting in 2017 couples with no dependents spent an average of 49 months on Ontario Works, compared to 106 months – just under nine years – in 2024.
Couples with dependents spend an average of 7.3 years on OW, with single parents averaging 3.9 years, and single people 3.2 years. Mitchell noted over half of all OW recipients locally are under 40.
As the consolidated municipal service manager, Kawartha Lakes runs all social services on behalf of the County. She noted the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services made changes to the service planning requirements in 2024, aiming for a more structured, streamlined, and consistent model over the next four years.
As of May 6, there are 1,537 receiving some form of assistance, including 268 in the County. While managing intake for Ontario Works, the department also assists people with housing and childcare needs.
Mitchell, who retired at the end of April, being replaced by Alyson Truax, said staff has no say over who is eligible for Ontario Works, how much money people receive, and how/when the money is administered – noting that’s all handled by the province.
Where the department can help, though, is in employment supports. Mitchell said staff meets regularly with those enrolled to try to improve their situation.
“We identify the barriers people may face and work with service providers as part of a team to support people to move past those barriers,” she said, noting Kawartha Lakes works with five employment agencies, eight programs and services to support financial education, five harm reduction programs and service operators, and 22 programs supporting health, mental health and wellbeing.
Some of its County-based partners include SIRCH Community Services, Haliburton County Heat Bank, the John Howard Society, Five Counties Children’s Centre, Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Aid Society, HKPR health unit, and Community Care.
Deeper dive
Mitchell said the department’s caseload has increased 12 per cent since 2022, with County files growing at a higher rate than those located in Kawartha Lakes. Of those enrolled, 69.2 per cent are single with no dependents, 23.4 per cent are single parents, 3.9 per cent are couples with children, and 3.4 per cent are couples with no children.
While the province is predicting a 16.3 per cent increase to the OW caseload in 2025, projecting total cases reaching 1,649 in Haliburton County and Kawartha Lakes, Mitchell said she doesn’t think new intake will be that high.
She noted from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, 2024 the department completed an average of 196 new applications for assistance each month. From Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, staff completed 129 applications for emergency assistance, under-18 assistance, or reactivated files.
Single people on Ontario Works receive a maximum of $733 per month, with couples eligible for up to $2,305. Mitchell said the number one complaint from people on the program was cost of housing.
“The average cost to even rent a bedroom in somebody’s house is $810 a month. Single people receiving OW, they can’t afford a place to live,” Mitchell said, noting the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in the region is $1,629 a month.
“Other barriers include transportation, physical and mental health needs. We’re aware of all the barriers… but 96 per cent of the funding we have to support people is primarily being used to support them and their housing needs, which doesn’t leave us as much room as we need to support them in other ways,” she added.
Funding continues to be a challenge, Mitchell said. The social services provider received a $71,000 increase in 2025 – the first its seen in seven years. In her report, Mitchell noted full-time client services workers (CSW) should manage between 65 and 75 cases, but are currently doing between 90 and 105.
“For us to have more capacity to do the intense work that’s needed, we need an additional seven CSWs in that role,” Mitchell added, saying while the province said last year they would look at adjusting funding formulas for 2025, there has been no follow-up.
County council received the plan, which has been forwarded to the Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services for approval.
